Corvette Fever Homepage Corvette Fever
Get Adobe Flash player

1958 Chevrolet Corvette Panama Yellow - Panamavette

ENGINE
Overhead-valve V-8, Gen I small-block Chevrolet; Induction One Carter No. 26669 four-barrel carburetor
DISPLACEMENT 283
COMPRESSION ratio 9.5:1
HORSEPOWER (Chevrolet rating) 230 @ 4,800rpm
TORQUE (Chevrolet rating) 300 lb-ft @ 3,800 rpm
CASTING /FACTORY
CODE NUMBERS
• Block: 3737739 • Cylinder heads: 3748770 • Carburetor: 3746384 • Distributor: 1110890 • Generator: 1110243

TRANSMISSION
Original Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission (RPO 685) with console-mounted shifter
REAREND 3.55:1 rear gear ratio

INTERIOR
Restored production ’58 Corvette
CHANGES ’58 new dash design with 0- to 160-mph speedometer, tachometer relocated to top of steering column (0-8,000 rpm for optional solid-lifter 270 and 290hp engines, 0-6,000 rpm for all other engines), passenger-side dash grab bar in front of anodized trim insert
SEATS Restored ’58 buckets, upholstered in Charcoal vinyl
SOUND SYSTEM Optional (RPO 102) GM/Delco signal-seeking AM radio
HVAC Optional (RPO 101) heater. For A/C, lower the top and windows, then accelerate rapidly, as appropriate for the day’s weather

1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Rear View
Be Thankful it's not a '58... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Rear View
Be Thankful it's not a '58 Buick: The '58-only chrome spears on Corvette's trunk lid added far less weight than the 75-100 pounds of chrome trim that same-year Buicks were burdened with. The convertible top was another carryover from the '57 model, as was the optional hardtop.
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Trunk View
How Bad Was It? The '58's... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Trunk View
How Bad Was It? The '58's body forward of the doors was in such bad shape that it was discarded and reproduction pieces were used. At the other end, here's what the original 'glass looked like in and around the trunk, after 20 coats of paint were plastic-media-blasted off.
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Cylinder Head
Rust-Clad Rarities: With... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Cylinder Head
Rust-Clad Rarities: With original 283 blocks in short supply, the '58's original block was reused after de-rusting and a thorough rebuild. The same went for the original heads (right).
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Interior View
Welcome In: Jeff Lilly Restorations... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Interior View
Welcome In: Jeff Lilly Restorations refreshed this '58's interior with new Charcoal vinyl seat covers and Daytona-style carpeting. Note the new-for-'58 dash, with gauges in front of the driver and a passenger-side grab bar.
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Stick View
More Four-On-The-Floors: ... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Stick View
More Four-On-The-Floors: Nineteen-fifty-eight was the first full model year that the RPO 685 four-speed manual transmission was on Corvette's option list, and 3,764 Vette buyers-including John Barker, this car's original owner-checked it on the option list. Jeff made sure the original-style "skinny stick" shifter handle was part of the restoration.
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Dash Board View
Within Reach: Along with... 
   
  read full caption
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Dash Board View
Within Reach: Along with centering the gauges in front of the driver, the new-for-'58 Corvette dash placed the radio and heater controls within reach of both the driver and passenger, and put a clock where the tach used to be. Note the CONELRAD logos at AM 640 and 1240 on the radio dial-where to tune back then in case of a national emergency.

Prev | 1  | 2  | 3

Chevy Corvette Research
Chevy Corvette When shopping for a new car take a look at the Chevy Corvette. The 2010 Corvette has fuel economy of 19 mpg. It has had 0 vehicle recalls, which can give you an idea about its reliability.
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Front View 1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Side View
1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Logo View 1958 Chevy Corvette Panama Yellow Engine View
 
1958 Chevrolet Corvette - Dream Ride #13
Ed Hoyt's long-ago ride in 1965 led to his first-day '58 fuelie many years later.... more
 
1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible - Sky High
Exclusive 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, featuring a 283 V-8 engine, several NCRS events, and... more
 
1958 Chevrolet Corvette - The Corvette Of A Lifetime
Time capsules are what we place objects from our past into, but what we're really storing away are... more
 
1958 Chevrolet Corvette Found - Rare Corvette Finds Part 1
You Just Never Know Where YouWill Find Your Next Corvette... more
 
1958 Chevrolet Corvette Panama Yellow - Panamavette
A 1-of-190 Color Scheme Graces This Fine Resto... more
 
1958 Chevrolet C4 Corvette - Chalk Outlines
In the late '50s, forward-thinking hot-rodders and teenage mechanics were pulling large modern... more
 
1958-1961 Chevrolet Corvettes - Remember When...
Thoughts from the automotive past by Doug Marion... more